El #1 Poem by Paul Velat

Here we are,
in the belly of a creeping snake,
lurching and burping up some of the people
as quickly as it gobbles them up.
It ducks and weaves amongst the tall concrete grasses
only to stop as it passes
to engage in the burping and gobbling gesture again.
Here we are,
in the belly of a creeping snake
Its a wonderful thing, this
movement is molten silver
Like a dancer who might have had her training in outer space.
I am here, in this belly, warm and protected
for a long time you might have suspected.
There is no reason to leave
unless I want something new.
Its a wonderful thing, this movement is molten silver
Its now or never, and we make a break for the light.
I take in a deep breath and inhale the flavor of freedom,
my first move isn’t to vote but choose the ice cream.
We all scream for ice cream, till it falls out of our grasp
and onto the concrete below.
Its now or never, and we make a break for the light